HIV-Illness, Social Support, Sense of Coherence, and Psychosocial Well-Being in a Sample of Help-Seeking Adults

This study tests a set of hypotheses that predict self-esteem and anxiety in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The analysis is motivated by the following question: Is the level of perceived coherence, i.e., the extent to which individuals derive meaning and purpose in their lives despite their HIV-illness, related to their levels of self-esteem and anxiety? Data were obtained from one of three HIV care and referral centers in the Midsouth. The results demonstrate that clients who experienced a greater sense of derived meaning and purpose (perceived coherence) from their situations and those with more confidants (social support) reported higher self-esteem and lower anxiety than other HIV-infected adults seeking counseling and maintenance services. Implications are drawn for strategies to meet HIV-related mental health care needs.